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[Scene: Christmas tree set up in the front room of the Matsukawa household, lights glittering on the tree, silver garland with teal and white baubles hanging from the tree. Hanamaki is standing on a small stool while Matsukawa hands him ornaments to put on the tree as they speak to each other.]
Issei wasn’t entirely sure how Hiro had been able to convince him to decorate the tree at his house in Seijoh colors. He only hoped the captain and vice captain would be good and willing hosts for whatever team shenanigans they decided to engage in for the rest of the holidays. They would be graduating in a few months and leaving Aoba Johsai, but he could do without leaving behind the legacy that he had coated his home in the school colors.
“You’re truly a menace, Hiro.” He reached into the box he held against his hip to hand Hiro yet another white glitter bauble to hang from one of the branches. “Where did you even find these?”
“Oh, I had them made. I ordered them in March.” If Issei hadn’t known Hiro for years, he would have believed the blush sitting high on Hiro’s cheeks was from a trick of the lights instead of the embarrassment that was starting to radiate off of his boyfriend. He decided not to comment on the timeline lining up with Hiro ordering special ornaments for Christmas as soon as they started dating. “Shut up, Issei.”
“I didn’t say anything.” Issei kept his voice calm as he held out the last bauble of the box, tossing it aside so he could grab another box of teal baubles waiting for him. He looked a little closer to the decorations and realized there were numbers and names written on them. “Hey, wait. Did you get these personalized with our jersey numbers?”
“Yeah.” Hiro didn’t turn away from the tree as he continued to shift around the ornaments, avoiding looking back at Issei as the blush worked its way down the back of his neck now. “I got the whole team. Figured we could give them out when we do the shrine visit for new year.”
Issei had always known Hiro was secretly sentimental, but he didn’t realize that extended beyond their group of friends. “Hiro, you’re actually sweet.”
“Shut up, Issei.” Hiro’s voice was strained as he put the last bauble on the tree, hands just barely keeping from covering his face as he groaned. “It’s not like that, okay? It’s just something I thought would be nice to do for the team.”
“You’re like a sour patch kid. First, you’re sour.” Issei reached out and put his hands on Hiro’s hips, holding him still. He took the step forward and pulled Hiro against him, spinning them around as his feet touched down to the carpet. “Then you’re sweet.” He leaned down for the kiss, but it was made sweeter when he felt the way Hiro’s head tilted up for him. “But you forgot one.” Issei reached over to a small box sitting on the table, holding it out for Hiro to open.
The light hit the glass cherry blossom hanging from a pearlescent ribbon, making the pink glitter in the soft glow of the Christmas lights. Hiro held it gingerly in his hands and he felt choked up as he turned it over and saw the words etched in at the bottom, breathing them out in a sigh. “I need you like a heart needs a beat. Issei…”
“Merry Christmas, Hiro.” Issei reached out and pulled him close again, pressing their lips together. “I love you.”
“You sap,” Hiro whispered, words wet as he tried to swallow down his emotions. “I love you, asshole.”